A five-year project to build a school in one of the poorest regions in Africa has finally become a reality for a Folkestone teacher.

Mark Lamb and his band of 25 fundraising volunteer supporters touched down in Burkina Faso to start work on the school in the village of Kodeni after raising £50,000.

This is enough to build three classrooms, and momentum is growing ahead of the planned opening date in October.

In just six days, the group exceeded their goal of getting the foundations in place by also putting up three of the four outside walls up and shovelling 20 tonnes of red earth and loading 14,000 bricks.

“I can hardly believe that what started as a vision from God is now becoming a reality" - Mark Lamb

Mark first came up with the idea of building a school in 2010, but it was not until 2013 that he had managed to get a team behind him before starting with research and fundraising.

Climbing mountains, flipping burgers, washing cars and running marathons were just some of the ways they attempted to raise their goal of £140,000.

The project has also been supported by a number of Kent schools.

The volunteers are now a third of the way to reaching the target, which would secure six classrooms, a school hall and latrine blocks, and provide teacher training and maintenance for the school.

Mark hopes the school will offer a better future to hundreds of children currently without education.

He said that after landing back at Gatwick with “scruffy footwear, tatty rucksacks but contented smiles” he was “so grateful for such amazing support from so many people”.

“I can hardly believe that what started as a vision from God is now becoming a reality”, he added.

“I want to thank every team member for following me to Africa. Let’s keep the vision alive!

“We have been supported by local primary schools in raising funds – schools including, Saltwood Primary, Challock, Seabrook, Sibertswold, St Mary’s Folkestone.

“They did sponsored bounces, raising several thousands of pounds between them.”

Anyone interested in helping out with the project further can contact Mark on mlambie04@yahoo.co.uk or visit the donation page here.